Metabolic Adaptation in Weight Loss: A Literature Review
Overview
This literature review examines metabolic adaptation—changes in metabolic rate during caloric deficit—by synthesizing peer-reviewed research. The paper distinguishes metabolic adaptation from the commonly confused term 'metabolic damage' and analyzes how caloric deficit correlates with changes in basal metabolic rate, hormonal responses, and mitochondrial activity.
What this literature review covers
- Introduction: Defines metabolic adaptation and clarifies its distinction from metabolic damage; establishes the scope of the review
- Body and Summary: Discusses research by Trexler, Smith-Ryan, and Norton on decreased BMR during weight loss, hormonal changes including thyroid hormones, and mitochondrial function
- Analysis of metabolic adaptation processes: Examines the relationship between caloric deficit severity and rate of metabolic change
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Metabolic Adaptation in Weight Loss – Literature Review
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Abstract
As more people adopt healthy lifestyles and accept practices that reduce body weights, more concern is placed on metabolic adaptations that result from such weight loss practices. The current literature review paper analyses various concepts entailed in substantial literature regarding the metabolic adaptation in weight loss. Metabolic adaptation refers to changes in metabolic rate in situations when caloric deficit occurs. The author obtained several vital research outcomes from selected peer-reviewed articles, and therefore, compared the research outcome to enhance the reader’s understanding of the metabolic adaptions during weight loss. It is realized from the literature review that the rates at which metabolic change and adaptation occur are positively correlated to the amount of caloric deficit and that more studies are required on the topic to educate the public and scholars in general on the metabolic adaptation processes during weight loss.
Metabolic Adaptation in Weight Loss – Literature Review
Introduction
Metabolic adaptation is a commonly used phrase among the fitness community to mean changes in the metabolic rate in situations when caloric deficit occurs. In most literature, metabolic adaptation is wrongly classified as metabolic damage (Hintze et al. 2019). Caloric deficit refers to a situation in which the number of calories obtained from the eaten foods is meager, and therefore, cannot fully support the metabolic rates (Hintze et al. 2019). Metabolic rates refer to the amount of daily energy spent to breakdown the calories (Trexler, Smith-Ryan & Norton, 2014).